Chelsea spent £57m on Marc Cucurella last summer (Photo: Getty)

Graham Potter has revealed that Marc Cucurella has been dealing with some off pitch issues whilst explaining why the Chelsea defender has struggled this season.

Cucurella moved from Brighton to Stamford Bridge last August for around £57million and was later reunited with his Seagulls boss Potter when he made the same move a few weeks later.

After a fantastic campaign at the Amex, where he won Brighton’s Player of the Season award, many expected the left-back to excel with the Blues especially under the guidance of Potter.

So far however, the 24-year-old has been pretty disappointing and recently has found himself dropped to the bench with 18-year-old Lewis Hall taking his place.

Cucurella simply looks like a shadow of his former self and Potter has tried to explain why the Spain international has failed to hit the heights many hoped he would in west London.

‘Some players have dips in form and there are different solutions in games,’ the a manager said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

‘That is sometimes the case. Lewis Hall has done well and we have to manage his games and role because he is a young player just starting out.

Graham Potter worked with Cucurella at Brighton (Photo: Getty)

‘Marc has had a lot to deal with. I think it’s been challenging for him. He’s had some things off the pitch as well family wise that have been difficult for him as well.

‘There are many factors. You see a guy on the pitch and have a verdict but there are things going on in his life. I know Marc well and at his best he is a top player.’

He is of course not the only Chelsea player struggling for form, with the club enduring a difficult first season under Potter and new owner Todd Boehly.

The Blues are currently 10th in the table, 10 points off the top four and on Saturday they face a pivotal clash against fellow strugglers Liverpool.

Both Potter and Jurgen Klopp are managers under pressure, but the former is sure the latter can turn the Reds’ fortunes around.

He added: ‘Jurgen is a fantastic guy and a fantastic manager. They’ll fix it and come through their struggles.’

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‘He has had a lot to deal with.’